President Obamahttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/6541/all
enApple Daily: iWork Beta Open to Everyone, Government Apple Pay Support, iCar Rumorshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iwork_beta_open_everyone_government_apple_pay_support_icar_rumors
<!--paging_filter--><p>Apple today flung open the doors on iWork for iCloud's beta, thus allowing even the unlucky few who don't have Apple devices to participate. In other news, Apple is hiring high-profile auto experts to help with a secretive vehicle project, and the U.S. Government just became the latest supporter of Apple Pay.</p><h3>Apple Opens iWork for iCloud Beta for Everyone</h3><p>Apple paved the way last night for iWork for iCloud to enjoy the same kind of widespread popularity as Google Drive by updating the productivity suite's <a href="https://beta.icloud.com/" target="_blank">beta&nbsp;</a>to allow access for everyone regardless of whether they have Apple devices like MacBooks and iPhones. As of now, you only need an Apple ID to access the web-based iWork beta, and there's even a convenient link for those wishing to create one on the spot.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/02/applebeta.png" width="620" height="368" /></p><p>Currently, it's not known if Apple plans to extend this inclusiveness to the main iCloud site or whether it's merely in place for the sake of testing. Apple is, however, offering 1GB of free storage space with newly made accounts, which suggests that the option is here to stay.</p><h3>Apple Recruiting Auto Experts for Secret Research Lab (Updated)</h3><p>Just over<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iphones_overtake_android_mystery_apple_car_jobs_biopic_release_date" target="_blank"> a week ago</a> the idea of Apple being hard at work creating&nbsp;its own line of cars seemed like mere fantasy, but the evidence continues to pile up. Today, for instance, the <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&amp;jsonp=vglnk_14238701827837&amp;key=c1c7d488bb2df8a8b659d5d41634d304&amp;libId=683563cb-2e41-46de-b821-edd4333df732&amp;loc=http%3A%2F%2F9to5mac.com%2F2015%2F02%2F13%2Fapple-hires-head-of-mercedes-benz-rd-other-auto-experts-for-new-secret-research-lab%2F&amp;v=1&amp;out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F84906352-b3a5-11e4-9449-00144feab7de.html%23axzz3RePaVRvr&amp;ref=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedly.com%2Fi%2Fsaved&amp;title=Apple%20hires%20head%20of%20Mercedes-Benz%20R%26D%2C%20other%20auto%20experts%20for%20new%20secret%20research%20lab%20%7C%209to5Mac&amp;txt=%3Cspan%20class%3D%22s2%22%3EFinancial%20Times%3C%2Fspan%3E" target="_blank">Financial Times </a>reported that Apple had hired former Mercedes-Benz research and development chief Johann Jungwirth last September, and that he's now at work in a hush-hush automotive research lab outside Cupertino.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/02/jungwirth.png" width="644" height="242" /></p><p>Granted, the lab itself is quite new, having been created "not long after Apple unveiled its forthcoming smart watch and latest iPhones," and the report notes that any visible products from the lab might thus be years away. Even so, this isn't an isolated trend, as Telsa CEO Elon Musk recently <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_photos_mac_app_swatch_vs_apple_apple_and_tesla_engineers" target="_blank">claimed</a> that the Cupertino company was trying to poach engineers from his electric car company as well.</p><p>Almost exactly a year ago, <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/tesla_motors_ceo_acquisition_apple_very_unlikely" target="_blank">rumors</a> were circulating that Apple was close to buying Tesla, but Musk dismissed such claims as "very unlikely."<br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-titan-car-project-to-challenge-tesla-1423868072" target="_blank">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported this evening that Tim Cook approved an electric car project almost a year ago, and that the project is composed of engineers pulled from multiple parts of the company.&nbsp;</p><p>As the article says, "Apple has several hundred employees working secretly toward creating an Apple-branded electric vehicle, according to people familiar with the matter. They said the project, code-named 'Titan,' has an initial design of a vehicle that resembles a minivan, one of these people said."</p><h3>Apple Pay Now Supports Federal Payment Cards</h3><p>Plenty of stories have surfaced in recent weeks concerning how multiple banks have picked up Apple Pay, but as of today, even the U.S. Government supports Apple Pay (via <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-13/obama-s-visit-to-silicon-valley-is-a-big-win-for-apple-pay" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>). From now on, recipients of federal payment cards for Social Security and veterans rights will be able to use their cards through Apple Pay. As the announcement occurred at today's White House cybersecurity summit at Stanford University, the security of Apple's service was touted as a major reason for the decision.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/02/cookpay.jpg" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>Specifically, the deal includes "the Direct Express payment network and government cards issued through GSA SmartPay, which handles more than 87.4 million transaction worth $26.4 billion each year, according to the General Services Administration."</p><p>And the U.S. Government's support of Apple Pay will only grow more extensive with time. By September, claims Apple CEO Tim Cook, we'll even be able to enter national parks with Apple's mobile payment system.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iwork_beta_open_everyone_government_apple_pay_support_icar_rumors#commentsNewsApple PayApple Watchautomated carbetacybersecurityicariOS 8iphoneiWorkiWork for iCloudPresident Obamaself-driving carSocial SecuritySat, 14 Feb 2015 00:20:40 +0000Leif Johnson21299 at http://www.maclife.comApple's Effort to Protect Your Privacy Draws Criticism from FBI Directorhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apples_effort_protect_your_privacy_draws_criticism_fbi_director
<!--paging_filter--><p>The comparative safety of data on Apple's devices has long been one of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/tim_cook_says_nsa_would_have_cart_us_out_box_server_access" target="_blank">their chief selling points</a>, and FBI Director James Comey just can't stand it when Apple plays up those features. And now that Google, too, has taken to tightening up its mobile operating system, he announced to reporters today that he'd been in talks with the companies. "What concerns me about this is companies marketing something expressly to allow people to place themselves above the law," he said, as reported by the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/25/james-comey-apple-encryption_n_5882874.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>.</p><p>If you haven't heard, your private information is actually safer with iOS 8 than it has been in the past, according to a <a href="http://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/" target="_blank">new privacy site</a> Apple launched last week. In the past, Apple would store the encryption keys for your iDevices, but as of iOS 8 that's no longer the case. The upshot? Police and other officials can no longer use those codes to gain access to the user's data if they so request it of Apple. Starting next month, Google will start encrypting data by default, leading to a similar protection.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/09/comey.jpg" width="620" height="455" /></p><p><strong>Comey (left) with President Obama. Via<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Comey#mediaviewer/File:Comey-FBI-nomination.jpg" target="_blank"> Wikipedia</a></strong></p><p>"I like and believe very much that we should have to obtain a warrant from an independent judge to be able to take the content of anyone's closet or their smart phone," Comey said. "The notion that someone would market a closet that could never be opened — even if it involves a case involving a child kidnapper and a court order — to me does not make any sense."</p><p>The trouble is that Comey's concerns don't make sense to many supporters of Apple and Google's privacy measures, particularly since there's some worry that actions such as Comey is describing may conflict with the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.</p><p>Specifically, the amendment reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."</p><p>For his part, Comey seems to believe that "probable cause" is the key issue here, and during the press conference, he specifically seems concerned with Apple and Google's marketing of the feature.</p><p>"There will come a day — well it comes every day in this business — when it will matter a great, great deal to the lives of people of all kinds that we be able to with judicial authorization gain access to a kidnapper's or a terrorist or a criminal's device," he said.</p><p>Comey also claims that he just wants "make sure we have a good conversation in this country" before an incident occurs where such measures are absolutely necessary. Furthermore, he acknowledges that the opposition to the NSA in the wake of Edward Snowden's revelations has "started an understandable pendulum swing."</p><p>"What I'm worried about is," he said, "this is an indication to us as a country and as a people that, boy, maybe that pendulum swung too far."</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apples_effort_protect_your_privacy_draws_criticism_fbi_director#commentsNewsEdward SnowdenFBIGoogleiPadiphoneJames ComeyMacPresident ObamaPRISMprivacyThu, 25 Sep 2014 22:48:54 +0000Leif Johnson20689 at http://www.maclife.comPresident Obama Signs Bill Making iPhone Unlocking Legal in U.S.http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_signs_bill_making_iphone_unlocking_legal_us
<!--paging_filter--><p>Locking cell phones is so unpopular a concept that it accomplished the seemingly impossible—it managed to get the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to reach a unanimous agreement when they decided to overturn it. We told you about that<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/unlocking_iphones_switch_carriers_may_soon_be_legal_us" target="_blank"> last week</a>, but today President Obama signed the<a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s517" target="_blank"> Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act</a> into law. So go on. Provided your initial contract has expired, unlock that iPhone.</p><p>The act first saw life in 2013 as a "We the People" petition that generated more than 100,000 signatures from citizens in favor of making cellphone unlocking legal again. Wireless customers previously had been able to unlock their phones to change providers or install foreign SIM cards for overseas travel under an exception in the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, but the exception's expiration in 2013 rendered unlocking illegal.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/08/iphone5s.jpg" width="620" height="348" /></p><p><strong>Source: <a href="http://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-5s/" target="_blank">Cnet</a></strong></p><p>Again, you need to make sure you're no longer under any contractual obligations with your provider when you unlock it. If you are, however, you can switch services without begging your provider for permission, and even more notably, you're free to ask for assistance in doing so from your local tech shop.</p><p>"The most important part of this joint effort is that it will have a real impact," said Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy in a <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/08/01/answering-publics-call" target="_blank">White House blog post</a>. "As long as their phone is compatible and they have complied with their contracts, consumers will now be able to enjoy the freedom of taking their mobile service — and a phone they already own — to the carrier that best fits their needs. At a time when partisan gridlock all too often threatens progress on everyday issues that matter to consumers, working together we listened to your voices, and the American people benefited as a result."</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_signs_bill_making_iphone_unlocking_legal_us#commentsNewscellularCongressiphonePresident ObamasmartphonesUnlockunlockingUnlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition ActFri, 01 Aug 2014 21:32:34 +0000Leif Johnson20409 at http://www.maclife.comUnlocking iPhones (to Switch Carriers) May Soon Be Legal in U.S.http://www.maclife.com/article/news/unlocking_iphones_switch_carriers_may_soon_be_legal_us
<!--paging_filter--><p>The controversies associated with unlocking one's iPhone have dogged the smartphone since its origins, but now at last (with some qualifications), it looks like the practice will at last gain some legitimacy. The bill in question only covers the right to switch from one carrier to another, but it's a step forward, and the bill has only one more step to take before it becomes law.</p><p>The bill, Vermont Senator <a href="http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-and-other-leaders-of-senate-and-house-judiciary-committees-hail-final-congressional-action_on-pro-consumer-cell-phone-legislation" target="_blank">Patrick Leahy</a> reports, is called the "Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act" and the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill today. (See? At least Congress can agree on <em>some</em> things.) Last week the Senate approved it, and this week it's expected to go on to President Obama, who's expected to sign it into law.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/07/iphones.jpg" width="620" height="318" /></p><p>There's a catch, though: The bill doesn't allow you to drop your current carrier in mid-contract, so you can't ditch your two-year contract with AT&amp;T 12 months in and take up a plan with Verizon. This actually somewhat returns the law to the state of affairs in 2010 before an action by the U.S. Copyright Office in 2012, so that we'll (probably) soon enjoy "the Library of Congress’s former exemption so that consumers may unlock their phones after their contracts have expired."</p><p>The bill only covers smartphones as it's currently worded, but it could pave the way for broadening the measure to secondary devices such as tablets in the near future.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/unlocking_iphones_switch_carriers_may_soon_be_legal_us#commentsNewsBilliphoneLawlegalityObamaPatrick LeahyPresident ObamasenateunlockingFri, 25 Jul 2014 22:06:29 +0000Leif Johnson20374 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend Recap: Chinese Security Threat, Streaming Sync, Apple SupplierPayhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_chinese_security_threat_streaming_sync_apple_supplierpay
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/china_iphone_threat_620px.png" alt="China iPhone threat" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Developers received a pleasant surprise last Friday as Apple launched <a href="https://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/" target="_blank">a blog dedicated to its new Swift</a> programming language for iOS and OS X. Offering a "behind-the-scenes look" into Swift "by the engineers who created it," the open blog appears to be yet another indication of a more friendly, more open Cupertino. And there's plenty more Apple news in our weekend recap, so keep reading, won't you...?</p><h3>iPhone Location Tracking Branded Security Threat in China</h3><p>Apple's rapid growth in China may have just hit a speed bump: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/china-labels-apple-iphone-a-security-threat-1405062978?mod=rss_Technology" target="_blank"><em>The Wall Street Journal</em> reported Sunday</a> that state-run China Central Television has branded the iPhone a "national security concern," criticizing the way Cupertino's smartphone collects and stores "frequent location" data, which researchers claim could be used to "gain knowledge of China's economic situation or 'even state secrets.'" Apple quickly rebuffed such claims by touting how location data is encrypted and stored locally on the device, but the report comes at a crucial time as iPhone sales in China are rising — currently six percent compared to rival Samsung's 17.8 percent share.</p><h3>Dropbox Makes Syncing Large Files Easier on Desktop</h3><p>Nothing is worse that needing to share a large file with a client or co-worker and having to wait for the upload to finish before it can be downloaded at the receiving end. That's why <a href="https://blog.dropbox.com/2014/07/introducing-streaming-sync-supercharged-sync-for-large-files/" target="_blank">Dropbox announced Friday</a> a new initiative called "streaming sync," offering "improved multi-client sync time for large files" the cloud storage provider claims will be 1.25x to 2x faster than the current method. Streaming sync works with any file 16MB or larger and requires the latest version of the Dropbox desktop client, while the new feature will be rolling out gradually over the next couple of weeks to users.</p><h3>Apple Joins Obama-Backed Initiative to Boost Small Business</h3><p>Getting paid by vendors in a timely fashion can make or break many small businesses, which is why President Obama's administration recently launched a new initiative called "SupplierPay" to help small contractors get invoices paid within 15 days. <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/07/11/apple-joins-president-obamas-supplierpay-initiative-aimed-at-boosting-us-small-business" target="_blank">AppleInsider reported Friday</a> that Apple and a number of other U.S. corporations including Coca-Cola and IBM have now joined the ranks of SupplierPay, allowing smaller suppliers to have a healthier cash flow and increase their chances to prosper. "For the small business suppliers, benefiting from SupplierPay means having more capital to invest in new opportunities, new equipment, and new hiring," The White House said in a press release last week.</p><h3>Adobe Details How Lightroom Works Without Subscription</h3><p><a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2014/07/what-happens-to-lightroom-after-my-membership-ends.html" target="_blank">Adobe's Lightroom Journal blog finally addressed</a> one of those nagging questions about Creative Cloud subscriptions last week: What happens to Lightroom after a membership ends? The answer, it seems, is that Lightroom 5.5 or higher goes into limited mode, with the ability to open libraries and access photos or slideshow, web, book, and print creations — but no ability to edit them with the Develop or Map modules, which will be disabled. Lightroom mobile sync operations will also cease to work, but Adobe confirmed this limitation does not affect versions of Lightroom earlier than 5.5, which are considered to be "perpetual versions" and will continue to receive upgrades for the time being.</p><h3>"South Park" Packs Bags for 3-Year Hulu Exclusive</h3><p><a href="http://southpark.cc.com/blog/2014/07/12/its-a-south-park-summer" target="_blank">Hulu announced Saturday</a> that Comedy Central's classic Emmy and Peabody Award-winning <em>South Park</em> has staked out a new ZIP code on the ad-supported online service, courtesy of a three-year exclusive deal. Hulu Plus subscribers will have complete access to the entire series, which will also be available to free Hulu.com viewers until the debut of Season 18 on September 24, at which point the website will offer "a revolving selection of free episodes available," along with next-day access to the newest season. Hulu will also power the South Park Digital Studios website during the term of the deal.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter<br /></a><br />(Image courtesy of Business Insider)</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_chinese_security_threat_streaming_sync_apple_supplierpay#commentsNewsAdobeChinaDropboxHuluLightroomPresident Obamasecurity threatSouth Parkstreaming syncSupplierPayweekend recapiPhoneMacMon, 14 Jul 2014 12:34:25 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20311 at http://www.maclife.comPresident Obama Still Can't Ditch His BlackBerry for iPhonehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_still_cant_ditch_his_blackberry_iphone
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/obama_on_blackberry_620px.png" alt="Obama's BlackBerry" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Remember when Barack Obama fought tooth and nail to keep his BlackBerry after being elected president of the United States? Judging from comments made this week, it sounds like he'd gladly trade it for an iPhone, if only&nbsp; he could.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/obama-39-39-m-not-allowed-iphone-39-203852849.html" target="_blank">Yahoo! News reported Wednesday</a> that U.S. President Barack Obama apparently isn't allowed to own an iPhone, even though his daughters Sasha and Malia both spend a lot of time on one.<br /><br />"I'm not allowed for security reasons to have an iPhone," Obama remarked during a White House event where the President promoted his new health care law with a group of young people.<br /><br />BlackBerry smartphones made their mark both for security as well as the convenience of being able to check email while on the go, despite a sharp drop in market share in the years since the iPhone and Android devices came on the scene.<br /><br />Before being inaugurated as President in January 2009, Obama refused to give up his BlackBerry, which the government "specially adapted" to add further security measures and prevent prying eyes from potentially tracking the most powerful man on the planet.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_still_cant_ditch_his_blackberry_iphone#commentsNewsBarack ObamablackberryiphoneMarket ShareObamapresidentPresident ObamaResearch in MotionSecuritysmartphonesiPhoneFri, 06 Dec 2013 12:16:46 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18797 at http://www.maclife.comSamsung Loses $1 Billion in Market Value After Presidential Veto; Files Appealhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/samsung_loses_1_billion_market_value_after_presidential_veto_files_appeal
<!--paging_filter--><p>Samsung suffered a massive blow in its long war against frenemy Apple this weekend when President Obama vetoed the ITC's decision to ban imports of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3G, and the iPad 2 into the USA. As reported by the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324653004578648952344694088.html" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> (via <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2013/08/05/1b-wiped-off-samsungs-value-following-presidential-veto-samsung-continues-appeals/" target="_blank">9to5Mac)</a>, the veto sliced a full 1 billion dollars off of Samsung's market value, representing a 0.9 percent loss.</p><p>Oddly enough, this is the first time a U.S. president has vetoed an ITC ban since 1987, when President Reagan exercised the power in a case involving (yes) Samsung, according to <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-02/apple-seeks-obama-reprieve-on-iphone-import-ban.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>. <a href="http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&amp;key=c6684b5502fa2a415a104d824988c196&amp;loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macrumors.com%2F2013%2F08%2F05%2Fsamsung-loses-1-billion-in-market-value-after-u-s-veto-on-apple-ban-files-appeal-against-patent-ruling%2F&amp;v=1&amp;libId=e00f5104-1de4-4527-b043-ac1488441c45&amp;out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fintl%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F288ab0ea-fda2-11e2-a5b1-00144feabdc0.html%23axzz2b5LccEpJ&amp;title=Samsung%20Loses%20%241%20Billion%20in%20Market%20Value%20After%20U.S.%20Veto%20on%20Apple%20Ban%2C%20Files%20Appeal%20Against%20Patent%20Ruling%20-%20Mac%20Rumors&amp;txt=reported&amp;jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13757379603966" target="_blank">The Financial Times</a> has since reported that Samsung is appealing the decision to the ITC (International Trade Commission), even though the President's veto overrides any decision by the organization.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/08/samsung-logo.jpg" width="620" height="206" /></p><p>There's a somewhat legitimate reason for that. In the Financial Times' words, "Samsung revealed on Monday that it had filed a court appeal on July 18 against the original ITC finding, because the ITC ruled that Apple had infringed only one patent, rather than finding in favour of Samsung on all four patents it had claimed were violated."</p><p>Bloomberg added that the appeal was filed at the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington according to a spokesman, followed by an announcement that a oral hearing was scheduled for the first quarter of next year. But as 9to5Mac points out, either way, this is a victory for Apple. Even if something transpires after the hearing, the impact will be significantly less devastating because new models of the devices will have already been released by then.</p><p>As <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2013/08/05/samsung-loses-1-billion-in-market-value-after-u-s-veto-on-apple-ban-files-appeal-against-patent-ruling/" target="_blank">MacRumors</a> reports, Apple won the first victory in the struggle against Samsung, when a judge awarded Apple $1 billion last year after a patent suit. In March, however, a judge halved that amount. <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/columns/law_apple_possible_samsung_settlement_horizon" target="_blank">As you might recall,</a> Apple is currently involved in a suit alleging that Samsung stole some of its own patents.</p><p><em> Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/samsung_loses_1_billion_market_value_after_presidential_veto_files_appeal#commentsNewsappealapplepatent warsPatentsPresident ObamaSamsungvetoMon, 05 Aug 2013 21:33:13 +0000Leif Johnson17705 at http://www.maclife.comLove 'Em or Hate 'Em, Obamney Pokes Fun at Presidential Politicshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/love_em_or_hate_em_obamney_pokes_fun_presidential_politics
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/obamney_app_200px.png" alt="Obamney" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If the last of the 2012 Presidential debates haven't completely fatigued you, head over to the App Store and grab an iPhone app that will add a bit of levity to the heated political season -- no matter who you're voting for.<br /><br /><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/obamney/id567250781?mt=8" target="_blank">Iddiction, Inc. has announced a new political parody app for the iPhone called Obamney</a>, which promises to bring some much-needed humor as the Presidential election season roars into its final days.<br /><br />Politics are a serious sport, but with Obamney, it doesn't have to be. Fans can add their favorite candidate to their pictures and post to their social feeds or hang on their mantle. Of course, they can be a bit more creative and photo bomb pictures from their camera roll, a new photo or from Facebook albums.<br /><br />Obamney includes plenty of "hilarious reactions" from Obama, Romney, Michelle and even VP candidate Ryan, all of which can be pinched, zoomed, scaled and rotated. Political fans can use blur to change the depth of their images, offering unlimited possibilities for photobombing your favorite -- or least favorite -- political figures.<br /><br />Best of all, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/obamney/id567250781?mt=8" target="_blank">Obamney</a> is available free for a limited time, and the app is even optimized for the iPhone 5. Head to the App Store and grab your copy today!<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/love_em_or_hate_em_obamney_pokes_fun_presidential_politics#commentsNewsApp Storefree appsfree iPhone appsHumoriphone 5PoliticspresidentPresident ObamaRomneyvice presidentiPhoneTue, 23 Oct 2012 12:15:40 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15396 at http://www.maclife.comReport: Apple CEO Steve Jobs In Attendance for Obama Meeting - Updated with Photohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_apple_ceo_steve_jobs_attendance_obama_meeting_updated_photo
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/obama_steve_jobs_200px.png" alt="President Obama and Steve Jobs" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />On Thursday morning, we reported that President Barack Obama was coming to San Francisco for a technology shindig with the CEOs of a number of companies, including Apple’s Steve Jobs -- and the CEO reportedly attended, despite currently being on medical leave from the company.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/18/steve_jobs_reported_in_attendance_in_meeting_with_obama.html" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> that Apple CEO Steve Jobs appears to have been in attendance for President Obama’s big Silicon Valley pow-wow on Thursday night. An unnamed White House official <a href="http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-Jobs-tech-CEO-meeting-rsg-3265262140.html?x=0&amp;.v=1" target="_blank">told Reuters</a> that all invited guests “were in attendance,” although Jobs managed to remain out of sight from reporters covering the dinner event.<br /><br />Obama’s tech summit was held at the home of venture capitalist John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and included a veritable who’s who of Silicon Valley bigwigs. In addition to Jobs, the list reportedly included Yahoo’s Carol Bartz, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Google chairman Eric Schmidt and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, among others.</p><p><img src="/files/u32/2011/02/0217_stevebama_620.jpg" width="620" height="448" /><br /><strong>Official White House Photo by Pete Souza</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/Apple-Jobs-tech-CEO-meeting-rsg-3265262140.html?x=0&amp;.v=1" target="_blank">According to Reuters</a>, Obama’s two-day visit to the West Coast is “aimed at promoting technological innovation to help boost the struggling U.S. economy and reduce stubbornly high unemployment -- considered crucial to his 2012 re-election chances.”<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of WebGuild)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_apple_ceo_steve_jobs_attendance_obama_meeting_updated_photo#commentsNewsEric SchmidtMark ZuckerbergmeetingsObamaPresident ObamaSteve JobsTechnologyFri, 18 Feb 2011 13:10:13 +0000J.R. Bookwalter9979 at http://www.maclife.comPresident Obama Talks Tech with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Others on Thursdayhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_talks_tech_apple_ceo_steve_jobs_others_thursday
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/obama_steve_jobs_200px.png" alt="President Obama and Steve Jobs" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Despite his recent medical leave, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to join other titans of technology at a business leaders event with President Barack Obama in San Francisco on Thursday night.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/16/apples_steve_jobs_to_meet_with_president_obama_on_thursday.html" target="_blank">AppleInsider is reporting</a> that President Barack Obama is heading to San Francisco on Thursday, where we will reportedly join outgoing Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt, who was recently named chairman of the White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.<br /><br />“The president and the business leaders will discuss our shared goal of promoting American innovation, and discuss his commitment to new investments in research and development, education and clean energy,” a White House official said, <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/steve-jobs-and-eric-schmidt-to-meet-with-president-obama-thursday-in-san-francisco.html" target="_blank">following up on an ABC News story </a>about the meeting.<br /><br />This isn’t the first meeting for President Obama and Steve Jobs -- the pair met back in October to “discuss the U.S. technology industry and the economy,” and in December, Obama hailed Jobs as an “impressive example of the American dream.”<br /><br />Apple CEO Steve Jobs went on a medical leave in January, although he continues to hold his job title and is said to be “involved in major strategic decisions” working from his home.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of WebGuild)</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_talks_tech_apple_ceo_steve_jobs_others_thursday#commentsNewsCEOEric SchmidtMark ZuckerbergmeetingObamaPresident ObamaSteve JobsThu, 17 Feb 2011 13:40:05 +0000J.R. Bookwalter9963 at http://www.maclife.comPresident Obama Singles Out Steve Jobs’ Success Storyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_singles_out_steve_jobs%E2%80%99_success_story
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/steve_jobs_dollar_signs_200px.jpg" alt="Steve Jobs seeing dollar signs" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Apple CEO Steve Jobs got a little shout-out on Wednesday from none other than the President of the United States, who held the executive up as an incentive for the rest of us to become wealthy and successful.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20026475-64.html" target="_blank">CNET News is reporting</a> that President Barack Obama name-dropped Apple CEO Steve Jobs during a question and answer session on Wednesday with the press, using the Cupertino executive as an example of someone “who has created two or three different revolutionary products” and should be an incentive for others to reach for the American dream.<br /><br />"What is...a fact is that people in the top one percent, people in the top one-tenth of one percent, or one-hundredth of one percent have a larger share of income and wealth than any time since the 1920s,” Obama responder to a reporter’s question. “Those are just facts. That's not a feeling on the part of Democrats. Those are facts."<br /><br />The President then segued into his praise of Steve Jobs: “Something that's always been the greatest strength of America is a thriving, booming middle class, where everybody has got a shot at the American dream. And that should be our goal. That should be what we're focused on. How are we creating opportunity for everybody? So that we celebrate wealth. We celebrate somebody like a Steve Jobs, who has created two or three different revolutionary products. We expect that person to be rich, and that's a good thing. We want that incentive. That's part of the free market.”<br /><br />Though we Mac fans might take issue with Obama limiting Jobs’ success to a mere “two or three different revolutionary products,” it’s nice to see that Apple’s CEO is being held up as a model of capitalism -- even when the comment ironically comes from a President frequently accused of pushing the United States toward socialism.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of AppleThoughts.com)</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_singles_out_steve_jobs%E2%80%99_success_story#commentsNewsApple Inc.bags o' moneyObamaPresident ObamaSteve JobsThu, 23 Dec 2010 13:57:59 +0000J.R. Bookwalter9329 at http://www.maclife.comPresident Obama and Steve Jobs Meet To Talk Education and Energyhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_and_steve_jobs_meet_talk_education_and_energy
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220907/presidentjobs.jpg" alt="presidentjobs" width="380" height="208" /></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of mnn.com)</em><br /><br />Sometimes Apple and politics seem to go hand in hand.&nbsp; With Apple continuing record profits despite a soured economy, and Steve Jobs becoming practically a household name, leaders are starting to take notice, which includes one in particular.&nbsp; The Commander in Chief.<br /><br />Earlier today, President Barack Obama and Apple Chief Steve Jobs met and conversed about education, energy policy and ways to go about creating jobs, said the White House.&nbsp; The President had been in California for a political event, and met with Jobs at a San Francisco hotel.<br /><br />"They discussed American competitiveness and education, especially reforms such as the President's Race to the Top initiative," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs in a statement.&nbsp; "They then talked about energy independence and ways to increase job creation."<br /><br />Gibbs had told reporters that the President's meeting with Jobs was "a meeting the President was interested in having."&nbsp; President Obama was "eager to talk to him about the economy, innovation and technology, education," said Gibbs.<br /><br />Prior to today, President Obama and Jobs had last met during the 2008 campaign, said Gibbs.<br /><br />In the past, Jobs has thrown support behind Democratic candidates and organizations.&nbsp; He had donated $50,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 2000 and $26,700 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006, according to the records of the Federal Election Commission.&nbsp; Jobs also donated $1,000 to Rahm Emanuel when he was running for the U.S. House in 2004.<br /><br /><em>via <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-21/obama-plans-to-meet-apple-ceo-jobs-today-u-s-official-says.html?cmpid=yhoo">Bloomberg</a></em><br /><br /><em>Follow this article's author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mtilmann">Matthew Tilmann on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/president_obama_and_steve_jobs_meet_talk_education_and_energy#commentsNewsPresident ObamaSteve JobsFri, 22 Oct 2010 02:21:37 +0000Matthew Tilmann8672 at http://www.maclife.com